The Odyssey
This is an ancillary book to the Great Book The OdysseyMy Thoughts
See here for thoughts about my first reading of The Odyssey. This was an immediate re-read, so I’ll comment on the Fitzgerald translation and other items that stuck out during this reading.
For the Robert Fitzgerald translation, I loved how he translated Odysseus’ deceitful name as “Nohbdy” instead of Nobody or No-one. I thought that was quite clever. The second thing I really enjoyed is that Fitzgerald translated Hermes’ statements in rhyme. None of the other text in the translation rhymed except for two parts when Hermes was speaking. I just loved that. How clever.
The things that stuck out in this reading were that a sexual fidelity was required of Penelope and a directional fidelity for Odysseus. I also paid attention to the different descriptors given to Odysseus. Here were some of my favorites:
- strategiest
- great tactician
- master improvisor
- great master of invention